Seconds later, screams erupted outside. Not shouts of anger this time, but terror and agony. Men begged for their lives just before their voices cut off with sickening, wet crunches.
Then silence.
The dragon stepped back inside. Blood splattered his shirt and face. More dripped from his sword, which he cleaned with the edge of his kilt. He sniffed as he slid the sword back into its sheath.
“You killed them,” I blurted.
The dragon looked up, and his brows drew together. “Aye, what of it?”
“You…” I gestured to the door behind him. “You can’t just…kill humans like that.”
Confusion covered the dragon’s features. “They would have touched my female. For that alone, they deserved to die.”
My stomach dropped to my toes. “I’m not yours.”
In a blink, he was in front of me, his big hand gripping my chin. His fingers were as hot as a brand. “That’s where you’re wrong, lass.” His voice dipped, something dark and undeniably possessive slinking through the thick brogue. “I’ve spent a long time looking for you. Now I’ve found you, and I’m keeping you.”
No.
I kicked him, aiming for his knee. He sidestepped easily, his grip on my chin never loosening. Snarling, I balled my fist and punched him under his ribs.
“Stop,” he grunted, catching my wrist.
“Fuck you!” I kicked again, connecting with his shin. I twisted in his grip, using my momentum to drive my knee upward. He blocked me again, not even breathing heavy as I connected with his thigh instead of the more vulnerable target I’d aimed for.
His black brows slammed together as we grappled. “You fight your mate?”
“You’re not my mate!” But even as I said it, heat prickled through me. Not fear or panic. Arousal.
The prickle grew, becoming a thick wave that stole my breath and tightened my nipples. I kicked harder, a new kind of panic stealing over me as the arousal pounded between my legs.
Oh gods, no.
Deep in my mind, my dragon lifted her head. Recognition slammed into me. The mate bond hovered in my mind like a ribbon of light.
No, no, no.
“Go away!” I growled, not sure if I addressed the dragon or the unwanted bond.
His eyes blazed. “Stop this caterwauling. You’ll bring the humans down on us, and then we’ll really have problems.”
“I’m a far bigger problem, arsehole!”
His lips twitched. For a heartbeat, I thought he might smile. Then his expression hardened.
He released my chin. Before I could move, his hand shot to the side of my neck. His fingers dug into my skin, and pain stabbed deep into my muscle.
My vision blurred. The edges of the hut went fuzzy, then dark. I tried to speak, to scream, but my tongue was thick and useless in my mouth.
The floor tilted. My legs gave out. Strong arms caught me before I hit the ground.
Then everything went black.
Chapter
Four
TAVISH
